[New gram-positive opportunistic bacteria: pathogenic role and treatment]

NOVEL BACTERIA: The appearance of novel bacterial species among Gram positive microorganisms is mainly related to progress in bacterial taxonomy justifying such nomen species, i.e. C. jeikeium, C. urealyticum or R. equi. Another feature of such emergence of "Novel" bacteria is related to the rise in the number of clinical observations mediated by some well-known species described elsewhere such as in food bacteriology. PREDISPOSING FACTORS: Among Gram positive microorganisms, emergence for some species and renaissance or rebirth for others is mainly explained by natural resistance to widely used antibiotics including beta-lactams such as third generation cephalosporins, aminoglycosides, or more recently glycopeptides and the combined effect of several predisposing factors (hospitalized patients, underlying disease or prematurity, interruption of the normal integumentary defense via intravascular catheters). Clinical features depend on the bacterial species. Bacteriological diagnosis is easily obtained in terms of isolation and identification. Nevertheless, as for any opportunistic pathogen, a distinction must be made between colonization and infection. Finally successful treatment regimens depend on the bacterial species and may include surgery.